The Forgotten One
I was told to wait in the tent as the royal family left and had one of the other elves find me something to cover up with. The older elf who rode the wolf came in a little while later with the pelt of an animal. It was fawn colored like a white tailed deer it was decent sized but all I could do with the pelt itself was wrap it around my waist and use the limbs as a makeshift belt.
It took me far longer than the elf lady wanted apparently because half way through me trying to figure out exactly how to cover both my front and my back then tie it off she approached me and started shoving me and tying it herself. I felt like I was five and my mother was dressing me which made me unsure of how I should feel about that.
I looked like a primitive caveman when she finished. I was also expecting to feel rough hide since this was the first time I’d worn anything freshly skinned but it was like silk to the touch. I thanked her which got me a small smile as she gestured towards the tent opening.
Upon exiting the tent I saw that the warriors were breaking camp. Wrapping up bedrolls and tents and then strapping them onto their bears. I’m sure that they can carry quiet the amount which is another reason to have such a creature to ride but how much do they eat would determine exactly how efficient they are.
As soon as the warriors saw me they stopped doing whatever they were in the middle of and walk over to me. They started bowing and spewing apologies at me. I quickly stopped them and gave them a pained smile. “I’m also sorry. Since we we’re both in the wrong could we just leave things be and start over?”
“I’m not the best with first impressions but I’m quite good at seconds. Since I’m sure you’ve heard from her highness we will sort of be working together. It’s nice to officially meet you.” I stuck out my hand and they looked at me strange and then would look down at my hand. A moment or two passes and I realize they have no idea what I’m doing.
“You’re supposed to grasp my hand and shake it as a sign of ummmm well many things I guess. Comradery, meeting, greeting, parting, offering congratulations, expressing gratitude, or completing an agreement.” They slowly nod in understanding and shake my hand while expressing their thanks for my understanding.
I nod in response and ask them how I can make myself useful. They were quick in putting me to work packing things up. Ten minutes later we were ready to depart but before we did the Queen noticed something. We were a mount short and since most of the ladies didn’t want to share a ride with me.
Since the queen had to keep up a certain appearance with the warriors around and I wasn’t too sure about the wolf riding elf I couldn’t ride with her either. She also had her sister in law Sylmae with her. The wolf rider said her wolf was already carrying the most it could without sacrificing speed.
Teharissa was vehemently against me riding with her. Yuna blushed when she thought about and tried to talk to her mother about it but she stumbled over her own words. She also already had Shalendra riding with her. Alenia was just about to order either her oldest daughter or one of the bear riding warriors to make room when I approached them.
“Are we ready to go? We’ve spent a little bit of time just talking. I’d like to see this city of yours as soon as possible.” She looked down a little ashamed at such a pointless problem and she explained. To which I told her it was fine. I was just going to run with the group in the first place. Not for the first time and certainly it wouldn’t be the last they were all surprised.
“Maybe he just doesn’t understand how far and fast we will be traveling.” Is what they all thought but I just asked Yuna and Sylmae which direction the city was in. Sylmae was still just about as lost a previously. While Yuna turned red and muttered a bit before just pointing towards the northeast according to the sun. After she pointed I began walking in its general direction.
The queen tried to call me back but gave up and they all began to ride slowly at first. When they reached me they slowly sped up and I matched their pace without missing a beat. As they moved faster so did I. They we’re bewildered by me. It got to the point where the only way they’d out run me was if they pushed their animals to the point of exhaustion. And I would pass them as they would need to let their mounts rest.
As we ran I felt nothing but hunger. No soreness or tiredness from running but the longer and faster that I ran the hungrier I became. After four hours of fast paced running I saw that the trees had started to grow much closer together and that they’d grow in clusters as if they enveloped each other leaving more room between trees that weren’t attached to each other.
An hour after we stopped at the base of a massive tree. Everyone seemed tired from the Hard travel to get home as quick as possible. I was mostly unfazed by it all except for the severe pain in my stomach telling me I should really really eat soon. Suddenly after hours in a quiet forest there were quick bird chirps.
As soon as the chirps sounded the wolf rider answered with some of her own and Alenia quickly whispered to Sylmae and Yuna. They did something with their staves and I felt a change in the air around me and only me. Following this elves walked out of the woods around us with their bows drawn and pointed to where I was standing.
Upon seeing Alenia and her family bows were quickly put away and the elves bowed all except for one that is. “What is this thing you’re highness?” A tall blonde haired and fair faced male elf asked while still pointing his bow at me. Sylmae sighed quietly while Alenia answered him. “This is the man who saved my daughter Filverel.”
He looked somewhat shocked but keep his bow steady and kept his bead on me. “And what is a human so covered in filth doing in our lands? Should I dispose of him quickly for the debt we owe him your highness?” He drew his bow back further as he spoke. “Filverel that will not be necessary put your weapon down.” She spoke with ice in her tone.
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He held his bow for a moment before slowly releasing the pressure. “Of course your highness.” He bowed and put his weapon away. “I see you haven’t changed much in the time I have been gone Filverel.” He and the rest of the elves not among the mounted group gasped when Sylmae spoke. Smiles broke out on many of their faces while others were whispering to one another.
“My lady Sylmae it is so good to have you back with us again. I pray that nothing to deplorable happened while in the company of such a barbaric race.” Filverel said with disdain as he looked at me. She laughed at his remark “Oh no no the ones I was with were quiet deplorable as you say but this young man is the reason I’m here now.” More shock and some elves seemed outraged that I had actually done anything that would help someone so dear to them.
I must have had another angle and must be a spy. In all honesty I was getting pretty fucking annoyed and it must have shown. “Is there something wrong Human?” and there’s the asshole. “Are we angering you human hmm why don’t you thank her highness for allowing you to live and leave now or I will remove you myself. Oh wait who I am kidding a dirty human scum like you most likely can’t even understand what we are saying.”
Alenia and the others around me stiffen and look over at me and I can see sweat beading at the top of the three warriors and Alenia’s foreheads. I hold back a smirk and slowly look over to the queen and say in the most broken Elvish I can manage since I’m now fully fluent I say. “I………Break………Him?” with an inflection on the end so they know I’m asking for permission.
Alenia quickly yelled out for someone to stop and as I looked back at Filverel I felt the burning pain of three something’s pierce my chest. I look down and see three arrows less than an inch apart from each other stick out of my chest. OK ok how do I play this rip them out and act like a monster or make it seem like he just attacked someone who helped the queen recover two of her family members. Hah easy choice with this many witnesses.
If we were alone however I think I’d make him my evening meal. Only a few seconds have passed as I decided and I slowly fall backward and close my eyes. I stop the blood from clotting and repairing my body so the wound seems as deadly as it would be for a normal person. I hear a few startled cries and feel the small hands of Shalendra covering my chest as someone rudely yanks the arrows from my chest.
I can hear Alenia shouting at Filverel but not much in terms of having him apprehended. Hmm he may be someone important. Hard to tell how old these people are except for that wolf rider. I’m picked up and laid across something large and furry. The fur isn’t short like a bear’s and I can feel the tail wagging against the inside of my legs.
So I’m on the back of the wolf huh. Well this is certainly better than running. We move only a few feet before I hear Alenia say we are leaving and her and Filverel will definitely talk about this later. Wondering how we will be moving I crack open one eye and find a sad looking Shalendra staring at my face. The moment I open my eye she grasps my hand and calls her mother.
When Alenia comes over I feel us slowly begin to rise. I look around quickly and see we are on an elevator of sorts. I see no pulleys or anything that should be used to lift it so they must be using some sort of magic. Alenia flicks my forehead as I look around. “Was that really necessary? We all know that something like that wouldn’t have done anything to you.”
I shot her a smile and close my eye again. “You all know that but they don’t. Besides that guy seems like a dick.” Sylmae the wolf rider and the three warriors chuckle a little. Sylmae come closer and says. “We are quiet glad you didn’t take anything further even though we most certainly know you are more than capable of doing so. Also that wouldn’t be the best way for you to show up in our society by killing the son of one of the most important and long lived noble houses aside from us.”
I smirk at that. “Ah that explains why I didn’t like him. Self-entitled brat who thinks the world should bow before him and that his station and house give him an excuse to step on those he deems beneath him.” I hear someone quickly moving towards me and wolfy. “What would you know about him you coward! You hide behind mother and expect her to protect you from him!”
Wow Teharissa is talking to me. Well yelling. “Aw did I insult someone you care about princess? Would you rather I ripped him apart as easily as he would have killed me had I not been who I am? And after word what would have happened? His family would come after me or your mother for bringing me here.”
And on the off chance he survived truly angering me then he would hide like a coward behind his house until I ripped it and him down from the clouds he believes he lives in. I’m not a coward but neither am I an idiot.” She huffs and grabs me by my shoulders and shakes me. “Oh really so you’re a genius then? Then oh great sage of wisdom why did you attack us?”
I sigh “Really why would I attack someone who has already shown they will attack and kill me on site instead of try to reason with them? You sound like an imbecile. What would you have done had you saved a human child and the ones going to rescue said child attack you believing you to be the kidnapper? You would do what you needed to survive.”
“You and your cat didn’t give me the safest of feelings as I hid and your guards were more than just intimidating. But if they are the standard strength around here then at least I can rest easy knowing I can hold my own.” She was clearly about to keep shouting at me but her mother stopped her.
“I’m sorry there won’t be much I can do to Filverel considering his position please understand.” “I understand just fine. And you don’t need to do anything except one thing. Tell him and any others like him that if they do shit like that again then no one will stop them from reaping what they have sown.” I open my eyes and look at her. She has a grim expression on her face and nods in understanding.
“It’s not that bad. Especially if you were serious about my job here. The last thing you want is to have a guard who feels less than appreciated by those they work either with or around. And since you’re all royalty and he’s in some major noble house then I’ll be seeing more of him. As long as he knows to behave then there won’t be any problems.”
“And if someone doesn’t behave as you like?” Man Teharissa is like a snake with these venomous remarks. “If that’s the case then they are putting one of you three in danger and need to be shown the error of their ways or made to stop. Permanently.” She scoffs “You would dare use myself or my sisters as an excuse to harm those you don’t like?”
“That’s not what I meant. I said what I meant and meant what I said. If I think dick head down there is a bad influence on you or is in some way making you feel unsafe or uncomfortable I’d be more than happy to help my three charges.” All our arguments are stopped when the lift finally stops. Unfortunately I won’t be seeing what their city looks like today as a blanket is throw over my body as we exit the lift.
“Our reception was just a taste of what you can expect from most of the residents here. We will leave you covered for now until we reach the palace this way there won’t be any more “do-gooders” hoping to help us rid the woods of a human. Now please do your best impression of a dead or dying person. It’s been a long few days I’d much rather get back to my husband and put all of this behind us.”